UF's labor leaders gear up for union fight

Published: Sunday, March 6, 2011 at 10:16 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, March 6, 2011 at 10:16 p.m.

GAINESVILLE — With the state legislative session starting this week, University of Florida labor leaders are preparing to fight proposals that could spell the end of their unions.

Like measures that have provoked protests in Wisconsin, three bills in Florida mainly target unions representing public employees. They would stop public employers from automatically deducting union dues, make it easier for public employees to decertify unions and require recertification of unions with membership below 50 percent of the employees they represent.

The last proposal would have a significant impact at UF, where unions representing both faculty and graduate assistants have memberships far below that figure. While the measures eventually might be found to violate the state constitution, union members across the state will be working to stop them, said John Biro, a philosophy professor and president of UF's chapter of the United Faculty of Florida union.

"The important thing from our point of view is to ensure that these bills won't pass," he said.

Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, introduced the measure requiring that unions, except those representing law enforcement officers and firefighters, recertify by July 1 if their membership is below 50 percent. Plakon said a number of unions have membership of 20 percent or lower.

"Simple democracy would tell you something more like half would be more appropriate," Plakon said.

About 1,700 faculty members at UF are represented by the union, but only about 20 percent are dues-paying members, according to the university. The Graduates Assistant United union counts about 14 percent of the 4,300 graduate assistants that it represents at UF as dues-paying members, according to the union.

The union would be "completely devastated" by the legislation, said Joe Soto, a doctoral student in food and resource economics and co-bargaining chair.

The low membership number is due in part to "free-riding" graduate assistants who benefit from the union's work but don't want to pay a 1 percent payroll deduction for dues, he said.

Others are simply unaware that state law means they have to take action to become members, he said.

"One of the big hurdles that we have right now is public awareness," Soto said.

Florida is one of 22 right-to-work states, where union membership or payment of union dues cannot be made a condition of employment.

The same provision of the state constitution that enshrines that right also protects the right of employees to collectively bargain.

Biro said that provision could mean the bills are unconstitutional — and also mean that Wisconsin-style protests are less likely here.

That state's governor is attempting to take away the right of collective bargaining for public employees.

But like proposals in Wisconsin and other states, the bills in Florida are supported by Republicans and would weaken public unions that typically support Democrats. The bills are "simply to make life more difficult in as many ways as they can so in the end we go away," Biro said.

State Sen. Steve Oelrich, a Cross Creek Republican whose district includes UF, said he supports the idea of a 50 percent requirement. "I'd even support it at a lower level," he said.

But he said he's unlikely to support the bill that would prevent union dues from being automatically deducted, which he called a convenience issue.

Soto said such a measure would be difficult for the graduate assistant union, as some students are reluctant to give their UF identification numbers, much less account information, that would be needed to deduct dues.

Both the faculty and graduate assistant unions are working to increase membership to the 50 percent level. Soto said his union is emphasizing its work done to get graduate student health care and workload limits, while Biro said his union is touting the fact that members are eligible for benefits such as being legally represented if they challenge layoffs.

Some members also are planning to take part in protests, including "Awake the State" events being held Tuesday to oppose budget cuts at the start of the session. Plakon already had protests last week outside his office, but he said he expects the labor issue to be less heated than in other states.

He said he's open to making changes to his bill but sees it and the other two proposals as good ideas.

"If you think about the substance of the bills, to me they're common sense," he said.

<p>GAINESVILLE — With the state legislative session starting this week, University of Florida labor leaders are preparing to fight proposals that could spell the end of their unions.</p><p>Like measures that have provoked protests in Wisconsin, three bills in Florida mainly target unions representing public employees. They would stop public employers from automatically deducting union dues, make it easier for public employees to decertify unions and require recertification of unions with membership below 50 percent of the employees they represent.</p><p>The last proposal would have a significant impact at UF, where unions representing both faculty and graduate assistants have memberships far below that figure. While the measures eventually might be found to violate the state constitution, union members across the state will be working to stop them, said John Biro, a philosophy professor and president of UF's chapter of the United Faculty of Florida union.</p><p>"The important thing from our point of view is to ensure that these bills won't pass," he said.</p><p>Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, introduced the measure requiring that unions, except those representing law enforcement officers and firefighters, recertify by July 1 if their membership is below 50 percent. Plakon said a number of unions have membership of 20 percent or lower.</p><p>"Simple democracy would tell you something more like half would be more appropriate," Plakon said.</p><p>About 1,700 faculty members at UF are represented by the union, but only about 20 percent are dues-paying members, according to the university. The Graduates Assistant United union counts about 14 percent of the 4,300 graduate assistants that it represents at UF as dues-paying members, according to the union.</p><p>The union would be "completely devastated" by the legislation, said Joe Soto, a doctoral student in food and resource economics and co-bargaining chair.</p><p>The low membership number is due in part to "free-riding" graduate assistants who benefit from the union's work but don't want to pay a 1 percent payroll deduction for dues, he said.</p><p>Others are simply unaware that state law means they have to take action to become members, he said.</p><p>"One of the big hurdles that we have right now is public awareness," Soto said.</p><p>Florida is one of 22 right-to-work states, where union membership or payment of union dues cannot be made a condition of employment.</p><p>The same provision of the state constitution that enshrines that right also protects the right of employees to collectively bargain.</p><p>Biro said that provision could mean the bills are unconstitutional — and also mean that Wisconsin-style protests are less likely here.</p><p>That state's governor is attempting to take away the right of collective bargaining for public employees.</p><p>But like proposals in Wisconsin and other states, the bills in Florida are supported by Republicans and would weaken public unions that typically support Democrats. The bills are "simply to make life more difficult in as many ways as they can so in the end we go away," Biro said.</p><p>State Sen. Steve Oelrich, a Cross Creek Republican whose district includes UF, said he supports the idea of a 50 percent requirement. "I'd even support it at a lower level," he said.</p><p>But he said he's unlikely to support the bill that would prevent union dues from being automatically deducted, which he called a convenience issue.</p><p>Soto said such a measure would be difficult for the graduate assistant union, as some students are reluctant to give their UF identification numbers, much less account information, that would be needed to deduct dues.</p><p>Both the faculty and graduate assistant unions are working to increase membership to the 50 percent level. Soto said his union is emphasizing its work done to get graduate student health care and workload limits, while Biro said his union is touting the fact that members are eligible for benefits such as being legally represented if they challenge layoffs.</p><p>Some members also are planning to take part in protests, including "Awake the State" events being held Tuesday to oppose budget cuts at the start of the session. Plakon already had protests last week outside his office, but he said he expects the labor issue to be less heated than in other states.</p><p>He said he's open to making changes to his bill but sees it and the other two proposals as good ideas.</p><p>"If you think about the substance of the bills, to me they're common sense," he said.</p><p><i>Contact Nathan Crabbe at 352-338-3176 or nathan.crabbe@gvillesun.com.</i></p>